Free Republic

DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO – The National Council of La Raza spends most of its time protecting and advancing the rights of Latinos through advocacy and community work. But as it wraps up its convention downtown, it has found itself defending its name. That's because activists who oppose illegal immigration are saying in e-mails, during street protests and through the media that “La Raza” means “The Race,” and have been calling the organization a hate group. The accusations have prompted soul-searching among NCLR supporters as to what the name actually means and stands for. Most say the situation is the result...

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Traveling though Montana on Monday, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., made his first stop as a presidential candidate to an Indian reservation - and got a little more than expected. Obama was adopted as an honorary member into the family within the Crow tribe that inhabited the reservation - who gave the presidential candidate a new name and new parents. "Awe Kooda bilaxpak Kuuxshish" was the honorary name given to Obama meaning, "one who helps people throughout the land." Obama was escorted out to the stage in Crow Agency, Montana arm-in-arm between his adopted parents: Sunny...

Political strategists today were quick to parse how Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's sweeping speech about race and the American experience may affect his campaign to become the nation's first black presidential nominee. But among African-American scholars and leaders, the post-speech talk wasn't of polls and focus groups but of witnessing history. Obama's words—about slavery, black anger, white resentment, and the imperative to move forward—harked back, they said, to those of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, and they deserve a similar place in history. "This was his kairos moment," said the Rev. Alton Pollard, dean of Howard University's School...

Now that Sen. John McCain has clinched the GOP nomination, an 800-pound political elephant looms in the room. Will America stick with 220 years of tradition and elect as our next president a white male — in this case, a 71-year-old senator and decorated war hero? Or does Barack Obama — an energetic, visionary, 46-year-old African-American senator from Illinois with no prior military service — have a shot at the brass ring? While I do not count Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) out of the race, Obama is leading in pledged delegates, and Democrats would be committing political suicide with...

Sen. Barack Obama promised to cut greenhouse gases during a pair of speeches today in College Park, Maryland, and Baltimore. Obama, a Democrat seeking his party's nomination in tomorrow's (2/11/08) Maryland primaries, didn't tiptoe around the issue of climate change. Three times during a speech before about 20,000 enthusiastic supporters at the University of Maryland's Comcast basketball arena, he insisted the time has come for action. "We cannot wait to stop global warming," Obama said. "We cannot wait to fix this country." He pledged to put mandatory caps on carbon dioxide emissions from industry. And he talked about it often...

BROKEN RECORD? | 'He's been condemned without a trial,' civil rights leader says So what if Barry Bonds is the poster child for the Steroids Era? Should it be a wanted poster? And even if his pursuit of the most cherished record in American sports is the culmination of the two-decade period of unparalleled power in the game, what about the hundreds of players who actually tested positive for performance enhancers in the 4½ years big-league baseball had a testing program? And what about cheating by stealing signs, or throwing spitballs or using corked bats? And what about all the...

<p>WASHINGTON - A major Indian-American organization yesterday accused Barack Obama's presidential campaign of "engaging in the worst kind" of stereotyping for slamming Bill and Hillary Clinton's close ties to India.</p> <p>Obama's team circulated an opposition research memo Thursday, hours after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's congressional financial disclosure forms were made public. The statement accused the former first couple of reaping "significant financial rewards from their relationship with the Indian community." The Obama memo bashed Bubba for investing in companies that ship U.S. jobs to India, and accused his wife of raking in gobs of campaign cash from Indian-Americans and favoring Indian businesses over heartland jobs. It labeled her "Sen. Clinton (D-Punjab)."</p>

According to the latest Public Policy Polling survey of likely South Carolina primary voters, Sen. Barack Obama leads the Democratic presidential race with the support of 34%, trailed by Sen. Hillary Clinton with 31% and John Edwards with 15%. On the GOP side, Fred Thompson leads his rivals with 27%, followed by Mitt Romney at 16%, Sen. John McCain at 15%, Rudy Giuliani at 14% and Newt Gingrich at 11%

CHICAGO -- When former talk radio host Don Imus recently made racist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team on his radio show, he lost his job. Now, some are wondering if radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has also gone too far, NBC5 reported on Monday. Weeks before Imus controversy, Limbaugh began airing a song about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is running for the Democratic nomination for president. The song, a parody of the folk song "Puff The Magic Dragon," contains the line, "Barack, The Magic Negro." Some have begun to wonder if Limbaugh has been getting a...

'Today’ Show to Report on Rush Limbaugh’s ‘Barack the ‘Magic Negro’’ Parody Posted by Noel Sheppard on May 19, 2007 - 19:47. Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh reported on air and at his website Friday that NBC’s “Today” show is going to do a segment Monday regarding his musical parody “Barack the ‘Magic Negro’” (audio available here, subscription required): Now, this first aired on March 21st. This is May 18th. By the time they get around to doing their profile, it will be two months old as a story. Interesting point. After all, Obama himself shrugged this whole...

Let's recap: Don Imus referred to a group of African-American women as "nappy-headed hos" and was criticized, berated and, eventually, fired. Shortly after, two radio DJs in Pennsylvania were fired for encouraging listeners to repeat Imus' remarks. And this week, two New York City DJs were fired after making racist remarks against Asians. Meanwhile, we have Rush Limbaugh, who is proudly airing the work of Paul Shanklin, a conservative commentator and impressionist and a regular on Limbaugh's syndicated radio show (which airs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays on KTRH-AM 740). Both are white. The piece is crude, over the top and...

The following is an editorial from DVRepublic, “The liberated zone of cyberspace.” Movies' "Magic Negro" Saves The Day -- But At The Cost Of His Soul by Rita Kempley Morgan Freeman plays God in "Bruce Almighty;" Laurence Fishburne a demigod in "The Matrix Reloaded," and Queen Latifah a ghetto goddess in "Bringing Down the House. " What's the deal with the holy roles? Every one of the actors has to help a white guy find his soul or there won't be a happy ending. Bruce (Jim Carrey) won't get the girl. Neo (Keanu Reeves) won't become the next Messiah. And...

There's a brouhaha brewing over a parody composed and performed by Paul Shanklin for the Rush Limbaugh show. Albeit liberals across their "conflicted" divide are in a blather, feigning insult and indignation, in the mind of this essayist, liberal Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama must be a "magic Negro" if we are to believe certain of his claims and things on which he is still unchallenged. We understand that the idea of elutriating the airwaves of those they deem unfit is not "dernier cri" amongst the pantheon of liberals who have given themselves to defending America against rational, cogent and...

"Do you guys do ANY research before reporting a Non-Story, or do you just stick your finger in the air?" - Roger Andersen "Much ado about nothing. A slow news day out there?"- Todd Wilson "No, Rush Limbaugh's parody Barack the Magic Negro is not racist. It's HUMOR!!"- Mary Jo Robbins "You guys need to get a life!!! Quit being offended at evertthing you think you know about!!! The media attempts to try and fool people that they are the expert on everything, you like to point the finger at everbody. What about looking at yourselves!!- Ben "As a frequent...

YouTube has apparently posted a racist video using Rush's audio spoof "Barak The Magic Negro." Rush just said "Take It Down Now!!! Let's see what happens now.

CBS13 Sacramento, CA is trying to claim Rush Limbaugh's parity of the LA Times "Magic Negro" comment is racist. Go there and free them poll. It's on the right hand sidebar. It asks: Is Rush Limbaugh's "Barack The Magic Negro" song racist? http://cbs13.com/ You can also watch their story on this at their website. It's at the top of the page.

Concerns about Sen. Barack Obama's safety that led to him getting a Secret Service detail "had a lot to do with race," Sen. Dick Durbin said Friday. "I wished we lived in a country where that is not a problem, but it still is," Durbin said. "The fact that Barack Obama is such a highly visible African-American candidate, I think increases his vulnerability." Obama, vying to become America's first black president, received his Secret Service protection Thursday. It was earlier than any other presidential candidate, excluding Hillary Clinton, who is protected as a former first lady. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,...

due to a threat.

WASHINGTON —  A Chicago artist hopes his creation of Democratic White House hopeful Sen. as Jesus will bring attention to politics and religion. The exhibit, titled "Blessing," shows Obama cloaked in white and red robes with a neon halo, is on display at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Click here to watch the video report from FOX News Chicago.

I have a friend who could very well be a speechwriter for Barack Obama. Although I consider her a liberal, I'm sure she regards herself as a moderate. To prove it, she makes a point of condemning politicians of both parties as partisan hacks. Actually, with precious few exceptions, I agree with her. However, she likes to say she wishes that those on the Left and those on the Right could put their differences aside and come together for the sake of the country. It sounds so nice and reasonable, just like the bilge coming out of one of Sen....

If President Bush vetoes an Iraq war spending bill as promised, Congress quickly will provide the money without the withdrawal timeline the White House objects to because no lawmaker "wants to play chicken with our troops," Sen. Barack Obama said Sunday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - If President Bush vetoes an Iraq war spending bill as promised, Congress quickly will provide the money without the withdrawal timeline the White House objects to because no lawmaker "wants to play chicken with our troops," Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) said Sunday.

Friends - More and more, Virginians understand that Democrats are working together for smarter government that works for Virginians. And we've succeeded: Under Democratic leadership, we have accomplished so much, like Forbes.com naming us "the best state for business" and Education Week publishing a survey that shows children born in Virginia have a better chance for life success than those born in any other state in this nation. Today, more than ever, this nation needs a results-oriented President with the values and vision to move this country forward the way we've moved Virginia forward. I endorsed Senator Barack Obama in...

The headlines may proclaim that Hillary Clinton set a record for fund-raising in the first quarter of the year, and that she out-raised Obama. The New York Times, for instance, said, "Clinton Campaign Shows Fund-Raising Edge" But go beneath the raw data and a different victor emerges. Obama is the winner of fund raising first quarter race. He raised over 20 million, Hillary raised 26. But much of her money was in $4600 slices: 2300 for the primary election, 2300 for general election. Since she already announced that she will not take federal money for general election, she was free...

Obama: Bush Not Respecting Constitution Mar 30 04:23 PM US/Eastern By BRENDAN FARRINGTON TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday accused President Bush of failing to respect the Constitution amid the uproar over the firing of eight federal prosecutors. The Illinois senator also took a swipe at embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Obama has joined several other Democrats in calling for Gonzales to resign. "I was a constitutional law professor, which means unlike the current president I actually respect the Constitution," Obama told an audience at a campaign fundraiser. "I believe in an attorney general who is actually...

Barack Obama, a month ago: Democratic Party savior. Cool, smart, black, great personal story. Barack Obama, this week: All flash, no substance. Fast and loose with facts, Hillary will pummel him. After a Las Vegas health care forum last week, Obama was deemed a disappointment by a national magazine writer, and the theme multiplied: Los Angeles Times, The Politico, the Associated Press, CNN. The chattering herd loves a narrative, and this year, just as in past presidential years, the media are moving like a pack, hunting for their beloved conventional wisdom. The names are unfamiliar to most Americans - Klein,...

Presidential Hopeful Says an 'Independent Inquiry Is Needed' into Durham, N.C., District Attorney Mike Nifong's Conduct By LARA SETRAKIAN ABC News Law & Justice Unit March 25, 2007 — - Another voice has joined the call for a federal investigation into the handling of the Duke Lacrosse case -- this one with the punch of presidential politics. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a written response to a constituent, said that an "independent inquiry is needed" into the conduct of Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong. Nifong prosecuted and led the investigation into the alleged sexual assault of an exotic dancer at...

RUSH: There's a fascinating story in the LA Times today. Get this headline. Who wrote this? David Ehrenstein is his name. He's LA-based, and "writes about Hollywood and politics." The headline of his column: "Obama, the 'Magic Negro.'" ...But it's clear that Obama also is running for an equally important unelected office, in the province of the popular imagination -- the 'Magic Negro.' The Magic Negro is a figure of postmodern folk culture, coined by snarky 20th century sociologists, to explain a cultural figure who emerged in the wake of Brown vs. Board of Education. 'He has no past, he...

Barack Attack Chicago Democrats, Cranked by Money, Daley Machine, Seem to Be Weirdly United in Getting Obama Going: ‘It’s a Contact Sport, and He Understands How to Play’By: Jason HorowitzDate: 3/26/2007 Page: 1 CHICAGO—The field-operations office for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign is cramped into a small corner room overlooking downtown Chicago and the river that is dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day. The walls are papered in maps and yellow strips of oversized legal pads, one of which listed more than 20 states.   “All these states are thinking of moving up early,” said Temo Figueroa, the campaign’s national...

AS EVERY CARBON-BASED life form on this planet knows, Barack Obama, the junior Democratic senator from Illinois, is running for president. It's clear that Obama also is running for an equally important unelected office, in the province of the popular imagination — "Magic Negro." The Magic Negro, a figure of postmodern folk culture, coined by 20th century sociologists, to explain a cultural figure who emerged in the wake of Brown vs. Board of Education. "He has no past, he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist," reads the description on Wikipedia http://en.-wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro . He's there to assuage white...